Issue 37, 2020

A mechanochromic cyclemetalated cationic Ir(iii) complex with AIE activity by strategic modification of ligands

Abstract

Two new aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active cyclemetalated cationic Ir(III) complexes have been rationally designed and synthesized by introducing O–H substituents into Schiff base ligands. π-Hydrogen bonding is successfully exploited for the first time to realize the mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) property by the synergistic effect of O–H and F substituents in complex 1. An X-ray crystal structure analysis of the two complexes suggests that the intramolecular hydrogen bonding effectively restricted the molecular motions, thus causing typical AIE characteristics. More importantly, a loosely packed structure constructed from intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions (O–H⋯π and C–H⋯F) is obtained, and it is susceptible to mechanical stimulation. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies also prove that the MCL behavior of complex 1 is caused by the reversible phase transition from crystalline to amorphous state under grinding and solvent recrystallization, leading to a change in emission colors. A re-writable phosphorescence data recording device was fabricated using complex 1 as the active material. Our molecular design strategies provide a new avenue for achieving efficient phosphorescence materials with AIE and MCL properties.

Graphical abstract: A mechanochromic cyclemetalated cationic Ir(iii) complex with AIE activity by strategic modification of ligands

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Jul 2020
Accepted
25 Aug 2020
First published
28 Aug 2020

Dalton Trans., 2020,49, 13066-13071

A mechanochromic cyclemetalated cationic Ir(III) complex with AIE activity by strategic modification of ligands

Y. Pei, J. Xie, D. Cui, S. Liu, G. Li, D. Zhu and Z. Su, Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 13066 DOI: 10.1039/D0DT02526G

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